Hi people: D I hope you are well and okay ^_^….
Just this, a month of love has arrived. While not having 'one' in my life (LOL): P I thought why not write a short story? Though I don't believe in Valentine's Day because I think every day is a valentine day ^_^
Please read and let me know what do you think about this one?

My wife is a shopaholic and I love it

Chapter 01
Doubts

"Urgh….."Tala groaned.
He tried to open his eyes but the simple task was requiring so much effort. Finally they sprang open. First it was blurry and then the vision got a little clearer. He adjusted his position. But it turned out to be a mistake. Because his muscles bunched up, making rather a loud clicking sound from his neck. Damn stiffness.
After recovering from slight rigidity, Tala looked around and found himself in a dark room where the only source of light was from the lamplight that hung from a ceiling by a chain over his head.

'Where am I?'

Tala tried to stand up but found out he couldn't. He looked down and found to his horror that he was bound to the chair. Thick chains wrapped around his torso while his wrists were ensnared by steel bands that were attached to the arms of chair.

'The hell?'

Tala tried to detach himself from it, but it was fruitless. The manacles were strong. It was then he heard a voice.

"So you are finally awake, !" A brisk tone echoed.
"Who's there?" Tala demanded sharply, putting a stop to his struggle.

The room finally lightened up. Tala closed his eyes from the immense flooding of beams. Blinking slowly he took in his surroundings and found he was in a courtroom. In front of him a bench was propped up and sitting behind him was none other than Mr. Dickenson who was clad in black judge robes and sporting a white English wig of rollers that was very nicely hiding his bald head.

On the one side of bench the jury was sitting who were eyeing at Tala as though he was a piece of dirt. On the other side a court clerk was sitting; Kenny. He was looking down, elbows tucked in, a notepad in front of him with pen poised in his hand, ready for scribbling.

Just a few distances away from bench a witness box was set up. Tala craned his head and swiveled sideways, only to find a rather volatile crowd gathered. If it weren't for the police holding them back, a stampede would have occurred a while back ago. They were behaving so restless.

Tala couldn't help noticing that most of them were shaking their fists in his direction. One even waved a middle finger at him. How rude!
"Order! Order!" Mr. Dickenson said, slapping his small wooden hammer on a huge desk. Ten minutes followed, when finally the chaos subsided.

"Are we ready?"
"Yes my honor!" Kenny squeaked.
"Calling case BA 09399, Tala Ivanov verses Boris Balkov. How're we doing this morning, counsel?"
"Fine thank you" Boris replied in clipped tone.

'Boris….what the hell is he doing here?!' Tala thought glaring at the purple haired freak, which many years ago was their master and mentor.

"The court is held into offenses committed by Tala Ivanov by not keeping his word and borrowing a huge amount of money from Balkov Bank and not returning it along with interest…"

'Are you f****** kidding me?' Tala thought, bewildered. Since when Boris owned a bank?!

But Mr. Dickenson wasn't able to complete his sentence due to the fact that Boris raised his hand, signaling for silence.

"My honor it would be wiser if you added people among the sufferers as well"
Mr. Dickenson was tongue-tied at this. He then managed to choke out;

"Ah well…they didn't file the case, so I can't do that Mr. Balkov"

"Well you should, because after all they were betrayed by the scum"

"Scum?!" Tala shouted enraged" Wow! It's like the pot calling the kettle black! What are you doing here?"
"That should be last of your worries, Ivanov" Boris answered smoothly" The point is, you should be worrying over what's going to happen to you in next ten minutes!"
"What?! What the hell you are talking about you moron?!" Tala snapped.
"It's appears our accuser is sadly misinformed about the crimes he committed. Can't blame you, it must be hard to keep track" Boris ended with a sick leer.
He then added;
"You are here because you took the loan of $10 million from my bank!"

"Loan?" Tala asked, astonished.
"Yes Loan! And not just from me! From the people standing behind you as well!"
At this the crowd roared in approval.
"Why would I take loan from you?" Tala hissed.
"I wouldn't know that, would I?" Boris spat.

Tala tried to remember. Why would he take loan? For groceries?….no. For evil schemes?...no. Those days were long gone. His wife's shopping…..yes.
Tala eyes' widened at the dawning. The court was speaking again;

"The court has decided in favor of Boris Balkov. According to the law, all Tala's assets ownership will be transferred to Boris, while the accuser will spend ten years in jail. With this established, the court is now adjourned!" Mr. Dickenson said in ringing voice.

"No…" Tala whispered.

"I am so ashamed to say that I was friends with that man!"
Tala tilted his head and saw Ian, Spencer and Bryan shooting disapproving looks at him.
"Guys?"
"You are disgrace to mankind" Spencer said.
"Go to hell Tala!" Ian shouted.
With that they left.
Tala looked around and saw his wife standing a few distances away wearing a beautiful cashmere coat.

"Julia?"
"Tala….." Julia began" Stay strong!"
"Jules?..."
"You were a good husband…but I found love with someone else" she confessed "I am now with Kai…"

'Kai…..that can't be….his best friend!'
Tala felt like somebody punched him in his guts with steel knuckles. She continued;

"He is so loving and caring. Not to mention immensely rich. I can't stay with a broke man!"

Kai now came in view, who was visibly smirking. He wrapped an arm around the petite shoulders of dual colored haired woman and purred;
"Come on baby…our ride is waiting"
"Bye Tala…."

"No Jules wait! Come back!"
Boris let out a big ugly laughter.
"HA HA HA HA HA….."
"This can't be happening! NOOOoooooooooo!"

Tala sat up and was breathing quite fast. He looked around. He was sitting in his bed, the lights out. Tiredly he squinted towards the alarm clock and found it was 5:00 am in a morning. Dawn. He then glanced towards the other side and found Julia sleeping, her long dual colored hair spread across the pillows. She was humming in her slumber and was breathing lightly. Tala smiled. Her face looked so angelic.

He got up carefully, making sure his wife feet were well covered by a comforter, before going towards the rest room to freshen up. Coming out in track suit, he silently ambled out, a pair of joggers in one hand.

In a cold morning, he ran in dark streets, the hoodie pulled up so it hid his vivid red hair. While he was jogging, his mind was elsewhere.

'What a nightmare!'

It sure was one hellish vision. He has taken a loan, and of all the people, he took it from Boris! He would eat dirt rather than take loan from that wretched man. And Julia….she was going to marry Kai. KAI! One of his best friends!

None of it was true. It's highly unlikely that Boris has a bank. That man was behind the bars, for Christ sake! Praise the heavens for that!
Secondly Julia was married to him! They have been married for two years now! The wedding band in his finger was clear proof of it!
And besides Kai can't have any interest in Julia. That man was a loner. Tala was inches from accepting this that Kai might be asexual. If that's the case, that is so sad because he doesn't know what he is missing.

So immersed he was in thoughts that he didn't saw a bench that was propped up in a footpath. As a result his feet collided with one leg of it.

"F***" Tala hissed.

Muttering profanities in Russian, he sat down and massaged his leg. It was than he heard a voice.

"That's what you get when your attention is diverted"
"Wolfborg…." Tala grimaced.
"And good morning to you Master!"
"What do you want?"

Wolfborg ignored his question and gave an impish woof.

"That was a nice dream! I liked it! Your expression was priceless! I think I never seen that face before!"
"Not helping here Borg!"
"Hey you should totally tell Julia about this. Or even better, to Kai as well! I want to see their reactions!"
"BORG!" Tala snapped.
The ice bit-beast laughed.
"Okay…shutting up!"
"Good"
"Though Kai and Julia make a nice couple!" the wolf added slyly.
"That's it Mongrel! Where are you?!" Tala snarled, cracking his knuckles menacingly.

To answer his question, the wind blow and in seconds, Tala's hoodie was down, his red spiky mane covered in snow and thin shards of breakable ice. He thought he heard the departing grumbling laughter of wolf.

"Stupid…" Tala fumed.

When Tala returned, he heard sounds in Kitchen. Which meant Julia was up, making breakfast for him. He took his shower and afterwards strolled towards the wardrobe where his three piece suits were kept in order.
After dressing in Ash grey coat and trousers with white shirt and burgundy tie, he went towards the Kitchen where Julia was making pancakes and was singing 'Hey Jude'.

She looked up and smiled at him, which made Tala's heart go a little faster.
'Dammit it! She still has that effect on me!'

"Morning Tally baby" Julia went to him and lightly pecks his lips.
"Morning"

The couple had a breakfast, making light conversation every often or so, until it was time for Tala to go. He got up and straightened his suit.

"Well must get going now….." He grabbed his briefcase and was almost out when he heard a melodic tone.
"Tala! You forget your keys!"
"Oh thank you" Tala said, taking the keys from his wife. He was going out, until;
"Tally?"
"Yeah?"
"Aren't you forgetting something else?"

Tala racked his brain. He glanced towards his wife and saw she was looking expectantly at him as though waiting for him to give her a lollypop. He then remembered.

"Oh yeah I forgot…" he murmured" Taking out his American Black express debit card, he give it to his wife.
"Here you go"
"Thank you "Julia beamed at him before kissing him hard. Tala stumbled back, blushing little.
"Have a nice day Tally"
"Likewise"

With that he left. While walking towards his garage he pondered. At the end of the day, he would dutifully come home and find Julia organizing her shopping in dressing room. She would then proudly show the stuff she bought for him and herself.
One part of him would be amused at this sight of Julia. Another part of him would question, was it really worth buying such stuff?!
He shook his head. It's not like they were poor or something. In fact they were quite established. And besides if it makes her happy so who I am to deny her of such happiness?

Reviews? pretty please :'D
that way i will know that can i continue this or not? :P :3